Stand-Outs
As expected, Twilight is polling on Rotten Tomatoes about 55-45 negative-positive. Obviously a serious difference of opinion, but it's interesting to see how this and that high-cred critic thinks it's silly or worse and others are touched by it, or at least respect its strategy and understand what it's going for. Like The Philadephia Inquirer's Stephen Rea, for example, saying "it's about as intense a series of onscreen clinches as the movies have seen in ages...but amazingly, it feels real -- the actors pull it off."
But the two best paragraphs written about the film have come from Time's Richard Corliss, to wit:
"Twilight...observes movie laws as aged as Edward, who was initiated into the realm of the undead in 1918. Defiantly old-fashioned, the film wants viewers to believe not so much in vampires as in the existence of an anachronistic movie notion: a love that is convulsive and ennobling. Bella could be any Hollywood heroine in love with a good boy whom society callously misunderstands. She's Natalie Wood to Edward's James Dean (in Rebel Without a Cause) or Richard Beymer (in West Side Story). Cathy, meet Heathcliff. Juliet, Romeo.
"This brand of fervid romance packed 'em in for the first 60 years of feature films, then went nearly extinct, replaced by the young-male fetishes of space toys and body-function humor. Twilight says to heck with that. It jettisons facetiousness for a liturgical solemnity, and hardware for soft lips. It revives the precept that there's nothing more cinematic than a close-up of two beautiful people about to kiss.
"The movie's core demographic is so young, its members may not know how uncool this tendency has become. But for them, uncool is hot. And seeing Twilight is less a trip to the multiplex than a pilgrimage to the Lourdes of puberty. It's the girls' first blast of movie estrogen."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 21, 2008 at 10:57 AM
comment #1
K. Bowen
says ...
I didn't think it was especially bad. I just didn't think it was quite good. I bet the next one, when they have a bigger budget and have time to figure out what went right and wrong in this one, will be a good film.
As a man I feel alienated from having a solid opinion about it. But I think it's clear that it's not as good as something like Joe Wright-Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice, which accomplished, sans vampires, what this was trying to do. And that's the way I found to judge it.
But it's great material for writing reviewsl. Lots of room for zingers. My favorite from my own review. "This is one vampire who definitely can see himself in the mirror."
Posted by K. Bowen
at November 21, 2008 11:46 AM
comment #2
actionman
says ...
I can't remember a film that I have had less interest in than this one.
Posted by actionman
at November 21, 2008 11:51 AM
comment #3
Crimzon
says ...
It has 57 score on metacritic - one less than Quantam of Solace but still higher than Mamma Mia. Just your average chick flick. Peter Travers just put out his review. He liked the performances and thought the love story worked well as well.
I'm sitting this one out (cant stand screaming fangirls) but i'm beginning to really look forward to Pattinson's performance as Salvador Dali in Little Ashes.
Posted by Crimzon
at November 21, 2008 11:53 AM
comment #4
Chase Kahn
says ...
So Zacharek thinks: TWILIGHT = awesome...ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES = boring
Posted by Chase Kahn
at November 21, 2008 2:59 PM
comment #5
bmcintire
says ...
I'd buy the "Edward trapped in Victorian sensibilities" approach more readliy if he had awoken from a hundred-year coma. He's had ninety years as a teen heartthrob, and has clearly been present for the societal degradation that has taken place (and just as much time to adjust).
It comes across a Puritanical clap-trap.
Posted by bmcintire
at November 21, 2008 5:55 PM
comment #6
bobby1976
says ...
With all due respect to Twilight, which I know pretty much ZERO about besides that its a teeny bopper glamorous take on vampires, but if anyone is interested in seeing an A+ vampire flick(which I'm selling it waaaay short by calling it such), maybe the best one I've ever seen next to Nosferatu...check out LET THE RIGHT ONE IN...it should be playing at your local art house theatre if you have one. Outstanding. Highly Recommended!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXJfoGjC1Yc
Posted by bobby1976
at November 21, 2008 6:00 PM
comment #7
D.Z.
says ...
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081119/REVIEWS/811199997
Posted by D.Z.
at November 21, 2008 6:13 PM
comment #8
bobby1976
says ...
D.Z. thanks for the link to help back up my post.
Posted by bobby1976
at November 21, 2008 6:24 PM
comment #9
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comment #10
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